Alpha Innovations Roofing is now a member of the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas. We joined because the standards RCAT pushes for are the ones we already try to hold ourselves to, and because homeowners deserve more ways to check that a roofer is who they say they are.
What RCAT is
The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas has represented roofing and waterproofing contractors across the state since 1975. Its stated mission is to help member companies operate successfully through continuing education, industry connections, and an active forum for government and public relations. It also runs the Texas Roofing Conference in Grapevine, the largest roofing event in the state.
Two parts of its work matter most to homeowners. The first is a voluntary licensing program that recognizes contractors who meet program requirements and pass industry exams. The second is Safe Roofs Over Texas, a public-awareness initiative about roofing fraud and how to avoid it.
Why a trade association matters more in Texas
Texas does not license roofing contractors. There is no state exam to pass, no board to answer to, and no license number to look up before someone climbs onto your roof. In a state that gets hit by as much hail and wind as this one does, that gap gets exploited every single storm season.
You have seen how it works. A hailstorm moves through Rockwall or Mesquite on a Tuesday, and by Thursday there are trucks with out-of-state plates going door to door. Some of those crews are legitimate. Some of them will be gone before the first cold snap, along with whatever warranty they promised you.
Because the state sets no bar, the bar gets set by the organizations contractors choose to be accountable to. That is the whole reason we joined.
What our membership means — and what it does not
We want to be precise here, because precision is exactly what is missing from most roofing marketing.
Alpha Innovations Roofing has joined RCAT as a member company. That means we participate in the association, its continuing education, and its industry standards work. It is not the same thing as RCAT’s voluntary licensing credential, which is a separate program with its own requirements and exams. We are not going to blur those two things together, and you should be skeptical of any contractor who does.
A good rule of thumb: if a roofer tells you they are "certified" or "licensed," ask by whom, and ask to see it. A company that has earned a credential will be glad to show you. The vague answer is the answer.
How to vet any roofer, including us
RCAT’s Safe Roofs Over Texas program exists because roofing fraud is common and expensive. Whether or not you ever call us, these are the checks worth running on anyone who knocks on your door after a storm:
- Ask for a physical Texas address, not just a phone number and a magnetic door sign.
- Look them up independently — Google Business Profile, the BBB, and their reviews with dates attached.
- Get the scope in writing before any work starts, with materials and quantities specified.
- Be wary of large up-front deposits and of pressure to sign something the same day.
- Ask who actually performs the work, and whether that crew is insured.
- Ask what the workmanship warranty covers, how long it runs, and who honors it if the company changes hands.
Every one of those is a question we are happy to answer about ourselves in writing.
Where this fits with how we already work
Alpha Innovations Roofing was founded by firefighters. The habits that came out of the fire service — documentation, clear communication, showing up when you said you would — are the same habits that make a roofing job go right. Joining RCAT is a continuation of that, not a departure from it.
Practically, membership keeps us current on Texas code changes, manufacturer requirements, and installation standards, and it puts us in a room with contractors who take the trade seriously. That shows up in your roof whether or not you ever think about the association behind it.
If you have storm damage you want documented, or you just want an honest read on how much life your roof has left, we will come look at it and give you a straight answer. That has not changed. We just have one more organization we have agreed to be accountable to.